Steel-bound press for baling cotton



Feb. 21, 1928.

T. ELLIOTT STEEL BOUND PRESS FOR BALING COTTON Filed May a, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet l rwanloz Thamas E'JZ4LOZZ nome Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,865

T. ELLIOTT STEEL BOUND PRESS FOR BALING COTTON Filed May 6, 1927 sSheets-Sheet 2 Thomas E'llwtt Gnome Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES I v I A 1,659,865 PATENT 'oFFI'ca.

'rr-r'oMAs union, or BIRMINGH M, ALA AMA. Assrenon 'ro CONTINENTAL GINCOMPANY, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

STEEL-BOUND PRESS Application filed May 6,

My invention relates to a press for baling cotton, and comprisesimprovements in construction and arrangements of parts which areapplicable both for single and double box presses.

One important object of my inventionis todevise a press, the frame-workof which shall be formed of structural steel in such manner that it issimple of construction, of

very great and rugged strength, and is inherently braced against thestrains and stresses which have heretofore required constant adjustmentof parts of the present presses in order to hold the frame in align- ]5ment.

More particularly, my invention contemplates the connecting of the pairsof channel irons forming the upper and-lower platens at theircorresponding ends with a vertical channel iron adapted to both spacethe channels of each platen and to rigidly connect the platens againstvertical and angular transverse stresses thus permitting a structuralsteel bound press frame to be provided of unusual strength and rigidityand yet capable of economical manufacture.

A further, object of my invention, as ap-. plied to double box presses,relates to the manner in which the strain member upon which the pressrevolves is connected to the top and bottom platen channels. Accordingto my invention I use a square bar rigidly bolted bet-ween crosschannels interposedbetween the channel units of each top and bottomchannel and I mount onthe' square bar on suitable supporting platesantifriotion bearings for the rotating double press boxes. V

'My invention is further. concerned with simplifying and perfecting thecounterbalancing of the press box doors, which are so heavy that theymust becounter-balanced to enable one man to handle them. Here tofore,they have been counter-balanced by a counterweight supported by a, ropeor cable passing over a pulley mounted on a superstructure above thepress. According .to my present invention the doors are mounted on pivotcrank shafts'with counterweights suspended from the crank below theplatform where they arefree to rise and fall without interfering withthe operation of the press. 7

Another feature of my invention relates to the manner in which the sideand end Eon BALING common.

1927. Serial rm 129,229.

'doors are wedgedly engaged and clamped in operating position, and tothis end I pro vide the press box doors near their upper free cornerswith co -acting wedges so disposed and designedas to stop any uplift ofthe end doors and to permit the side doors to-open out easilynotwithstanding the doors are subjected to great internal pressure. By

My inventionalso comprises certain details for the design of the pivotcrank shaft for the side doors and the manner of mounting same instructural supports extending Eransversely across the ends of the pressOK. I

My invention also comprises the novel details of construction andarrangements of parts, which, in their preferred embodiment only areillustrated in the accompanying drawings Which form part of thisspecification, and in which Fig. 1 is front elevation of a double boxpress with structural strain members connecting the platens.

Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1 with the side doors shown opened out indotted p0- sition. 1

F 8 is a c ross sectional view taken through the door wedge lock membersof a single box'p'ress with the channel strain members at both ends ofthe box.

Fig. 45 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV ofFig. 1. T

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l with the door shown in openposition.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view partly broken away of the pivotal crank shaftfor the doors.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale taken on the lineVII.VII of Fig. 6.v 7 v i I Fig. 8 is detail view of the main bearingfor supporting the rotating press boxes. a

Fig; 9 is a detail end view broken away illustrating a channel strainand spreader connection between both ends of the top and bottom platensof the'press.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout thedrawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Ihaveshown the double box type of press, but it is to be understood that forsingle box presses the strain members connecting both ends of the upperand lower platens will be alike, as indicated in Fig. 3. In thedrawings, the revolvingboxes and 11 are of any standard structure andare adapted to rotate on antifriction bearings 12 that are mounted on asquare center strain bar 13 which connects one end of the upper andlower platens preferably by being bolted to the centers of cross channelmembers 14 (see Fig. 1), which serve as spreaders and have their flanges15 connected by bolts 16 to the channels 17 forming the lower platen andto the channels 18 forming the upper platen. The strain bar ispreferably square to facilitate its bolting between the channel members14 at each end, and in order to support the antifriction bearing 12thereon I bolt supporting plates or lugs 19 to opposite sides of thestrain bar by cross bolts, thus providing cheap and simple mounting forthe antifriction or ball bearing support for the revolving boxes.

The plunger element 20 is suitably mounted between the lower platenchannels 17, and the tapered bottom platens at their other ends arespaced, cross braced and rigidly connected by a single strain memberformed by the channel 21 (see Fig. 9), having a width suitable to spacethe platen members and to have its side flanges directly bolted theretoat each side. A web plate 22 can also be provided at each joint to bracethis spacer channel which affords. an extremely simple and sturdyconnection which will prevent displacement of the platens. Thisconstruction will be provided at both ends of the platens in the case ofsingle box presses, as shown by the channels 21, 21 in Fig. 3.

The upper boxes comprise side doors 23 and end doors 24 which may be ofany standard design, the end doors engaging a fixed bottom rail formedby a channel 25 which extends beyond the sides of the press box. Theside doors are each provided with top and bottom side door rails, eachbottom rail being made up of spaced angles 26 which are bolted to theside door and receive between them and are bolted to a square bar 27'which serves as pivot and projects beyond the ends of the box and passesthrough suitable openings provided in the end door rails 25 (see Fig.6). The opening for this shaft 27 in one rail 25 is made large enough toreceive a cylindrical bearing end 28 on a casting 29 which has ahorizontal groove extending part way through one face to snugly receivethe adjacent square end of the shaft 27. This casting is adapted toreceive the tie bolts 30 which pass therethrough on each side of theshaft 27 and engage the loop end of a crank bar 31, and hold it rigidlyclamped'to the shaft 27 so as to turn therewith. Each crank bar 31 atits lower end is pivotally connected by a pair of links 32 to the centerof an elongated counterweight 33 which hangs between the platform 34 andthe lower structural members 35 connecting the bottom of the boxeslO and11. These weights are also preferably arranged between the boxes in thedouble box press and therefore, as seen in Fig. 1, the castings 29 arearranged for each side door adjacent to the center strain bar 13. Thecrank bars are sufficiently bent to offset the several weights so thateach will move independently of the other and'in order that the weightsmay-take up but' little space vertically they are substantiallyelongated as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. In order to increase thebearing surface for the bearings 28 of the square ends of the shafts 27,I may weld a bearing collar 36 to each adjacent channel rail 25. Theother ends 37 of the shafts 27 are turned and mounted bearings 38suitably bolted or otherwise.

attached thereto. 'These form the inner bearings for the upper end ofthe lock bars 39 which extend beyond the ends of these rails and areprovided with cam ends 40 adapted to enagage the eye 41 at the free endof each stirrup 42, these stirrups being adjustably connected at theirother ends to spacer wedge blocks43 mounted between the overhung ends ofthe angles 38 forming the top rail of the other side doorof the samebox. r y

The channels38 project beyond the ends of the press box and therereceive spacing wedge blocks 44 which are grooved to serve as outerbearings for the lock bar 39. The blocks 43 and 44 are adapted to co-actwith the shouldered wedge plates 45 that are bolted to the channels 46which form the upper rail for each end door, the blocks 43 and 44 oneach side door being arranged to engage between them'the adjacent wedgepares" 45 at each end of the press box.

The shoulder 45" on each wedge plate will engage the co-acting block 43or 44 and hold theend- The lock bars 39 carry latches 47 adapted toengage detents 48 on the lower cross rail of the side doors and theunder channels 38 of the upper rails on the side doors have blocks 49attached thereto which will serve as legs to support the side doors whenfully opened out. p

The press boxes have brackets 50 attached to their rails and thebrackets carry an up per bearing 51 on the strain bar 13.

Having constructed the press in the manner described, it will be obviousthat the side doors can be readily opened out without being jammed tothe end doors because of the internal pressure, and that one man caneasily handle them, due to the efiective manner in which they arecounter-balanced by the weights 33. Due to the almost completeemployment of structural metal in the binding of the press boxes and inthe bracing of the platens, I obtain what I term a steel bound presswhich requires no adjustment of its strain members, which will rigidlyholdthe platens in correct alignment and in fixed relative position,notwithstanding the excessive strains to which the press is subjected inservice, and which will possess an exceed ingly durable and rugged pressstructure.

Though I have described with great particularity the details of theembodiment of the invention herein shown, it is not to be construed thatI am limited thereto, as

changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

mounted to project beyond the side doors at each end near the top, andco-acting wedge members mounted at each side near the top of the enddoors, said wedge members being disposed when engaged to interlock inplanes divergent from the side doors towards the transverse center lineof the press box.

2. A press according to claim 1, in which the side doors having hingemountings, and the wedge member on the end doors is shouldered to engageunder the co-acting side door wedge and adapted/to hold the end dooragainst rising.

3. A press of the character described, comprising side doors, means forpivotally mounting the side doors having a crank connected to-each pivotmeans, and a counterweight suspended from the crank.

4. A press according to claim 3, in which the pivotal mounting means foreach side door embodies a square bar having a cast bearing fast on oneend, a crank rigidly connected to said casting, and a weight pivotallysuspended by links from said crank.

5. A press of the character described,com-

risin side and end doors a bottom rail for each end door formed by achannel projecting beyond the side doors, the side doors having bottomrails comprising a square bar bolted between angles attached to the doorand journaled in said channels, bearings mounted on one end of eachsquare bar and adapted to turn in said channels, each of said bearingshaving a square recess to receive the square bar, means to clamp a crankto each hearing so as to underhang from the bar, and a counter-weightpivotally connected by links to eachcrank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 1

THOMAS ELLIOTT.

